Call-indicating device



1931- c. L. STICKNEY. JR CALL INDICATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed001:.

INVENTOR C harles SNGkney 7'21 ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1931. c, 5 JR 1,794,040

CALL INDICATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 17/ O o L C-b2 0 g L 2 INV ENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 24,. 1931 UNITED STATESCHARLES L. STICKNEY, JR,

] SEATTLE, WASHINGTON OALL-INDIGATING DEVICE Application filed? October14, 1829. Serial No. 399,497.

My invention relates to the telephone art and more particularly to acall indicating device for use on telephone receivers. In the past fewyears it has become quite customary for the larger ofiices to maintain alarge number of trunk lines. These may be several lines for general useor they may be direct lines connecting one oflice with another. Thisoften makes it necessary for a number of phones to be grouped upon onedesk, or in a limited area, and it has been found that it is verydifficult to tell which phone is ringing, as most of the offices use theso-called desk type of phone where the call bell is usually located atsome distance from the hand set itself. I It is possible to chan e thepitch of the bell slightly and thus ma e it possible to distinguishbetween two phones but when more than two phones are used, and in someoffices to my knowledge it is necessary to use as many as a dozenphones, it is impossible to distinguish the phone that is ringing merelyby the tone of its bell. It is to overcome these general deficiencies inour present phones that I have provided my device, therefore:

The principal object of my invention is to provide means whereby it willbe easy to identify a phone upon which a call has been placed eventhough it may be among a number. of other phones.

A further object is to provide indicating means that will identify alive phone for a short period after its bell has stopped ring- IXfurther object is to provide means which will operate the indicatingdevice after the call bell has stopped ringing.

A further object is to provide a convenlent source of electricalcurrent-to energize the indicating device.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The above general objects together with others inherent in the same willbe obtained by the devices illustrated in the following drawings,throughout which like numerals indicate like parts, wherein:

pivotally secured thereto the transmitter 16 Figure 1 is a frontelevation of a typical desk phone shown partly in section.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation, certain parts being shown insection.

Figure 3 indicates a modification of my indicating device.

Figure f is a schematic wiring diagram of my device using a localbattery.

Figure 5 is a schematic wiring diagram which is offered as an alternateform.

Referring-to the drawings, 6 designates the main body portion of aconventional desk telephone which is composed of the base member 8, abottom sealing member 10, and the upright standard 12, a yoke cap 14having to which is in turn secured the mouth piece 18.

Pivotcd within the standard 12 is the receiver hook 20, which is adaptedto support the receiver 22. Somewhere upon the telephone I provide avisible part of my indicating device. This, I have found is mostconveniently placed on the upper part of the transmitter as is indicatedin Figures 1 and 2. I have further found that a small electric light isthe most satisfactory indication of a live hone. I believe it will beunderstood that instead of my electric light I might use a small buzzeror some visible signal such as a small flag indicated in Figure 3.- Ifeel that these latter two modifications are for all intents andpurposes the equivalent of my electric light and in the followindescription will speak only of the electric llght as an inclusive term.I

It will be apparent, to those versed in telephone work particularly,that any one of a number of circuits might be employed to energize myindicating device. I have shown in Figure 4 a circuit that I have foundto be very satisfactory wherein:

L1 and L-2 represent the binding osts to which are attached the incomingtelep one lines of a two-wire circuit. A standard type of ringing bell40 is shown connected to these two wires. These wires continue on to theretarded relay 42 which is connected in parallel with the bell 40. Themovable relay bar 43 is connected to the binding post T to which thetransmitter wire of the telephone system is also connected. The barcontact 44 is connected to the binding post C which is the common lineof the transmitter and receivin circuits. After leaving the bindin ostsand T, the connecting wires C-l an -2 form part of the three-wire cable45 running between the bell box 46 and the desk hone 6. In i ure 4, therecelver hook 20 1s Indicated wlth the receiver in place, thus closingthe contact 48 and o ening the contact 49. The line running from indinpost C has an open gap at 49 and is connecte to one side of the signallight 50. The wirerunningfrom binding post T connects with the receiver,hook 20, through the hook 20, and the contact 48 to one side of thelocal battery 51, the other side of the local battery is connected tothe indicating light 50.

In Figure 2 I have shown a convenlent method of mounting my signallight, whlch .I normally prefer to have directly behind a small lens as52. This protects the light globe and may be of any color desired, thusmaking it easy to distinguish between different phones, which isparticularly desirable where a number of private lines are used asv 1tenables the party answering to know which line is calling him. I haveshown a conventional type of mounting socket with the two wires C--1 andT-2 leading therefrom.

I have indicated two binding posts 53 and 54 to which the battery 51 isconnected. I believe it will be apparent that any suitable current mightbe supplied to these points and operate my device as well as the batteryshown. O

In Figure 5, I have shown a single wire current supply which I havefound can usually be supplied by the company supplying the telephoneservice. In most modern cities telephone lines are laid in conduits andit is correspondingly easy to bring the extra w1re as L3 which parallelslines L1 and L2 from the central station. This wire L3 need only beattachedto binding post 53 and binding 0st 54 attached to ground 56 tocomplete a ighting circuit.

In Figure 3 I have shown a visual signal which might be substituted forthe signal lamp.- In this arrangement the two current carrying wires C1and T-2 instead of going to a lam go to an electro-magnet 60 which is aapted when current passes through it to draw the bar 62 downwardly as itis pivoted at 63, the bell crank of which bar 62 is a part moves. theconnecting link As soon as the current supply is broken the tensionspring 69 will operate the mechanism in the reverse order restoring thedevice to the position indicated in Figure 3.

, Method of operation In operating my device, as soon as a call isplaced upon a given phone, equipped with my device the first actionis toring the bell 40 by sending over lines L1 and L2 an electrical currentof the proper kind.

This also energizes the relay 42 which is in parallel with the bell 40.On energizing the relay, bar 43 contacts the contact 44. This completesa circuit through lines C and T permitting the source of current,connected to 53 and 54, to energize the indicating device 50. The relay42 must be chosen with such characteristics that it will hold the bar 43against contact 44 as long as it is desired to have the indicator 0erate. This may be for quite a little perio in the case of hand ringingphones, and may be of shorter duration where the bells are rungautomatically. The duration inany event must be long enough to at leastspan the interval between successive ringings of the same call.

There is available a wide variety of relays suitable for this circuit,consequently I will not describe themin detail as the only requirementis that they be so designed as to work satisfactorily in parallel withthe call bell and will keep the contact closed for the proper length oftime.

As soon as the phone is answered the receiver hook raises up and closesthe talking clrcult and breaks the contact 48, thus putting theindicator out of operation.

. The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclose apreferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that t isdisclosure is merely illustrative and that suchchanges in the inventionmay be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the followingclaims.

What I claim is:

1. A call indicator of the class described, adapted to be placed upon adesk telephone havm a base member and a spring controlle recelversupport, comprising; a visual slgnal, a source of electrical current tooperate said signal, a switching means adapted to connect said currentto said signal when a call is placed upon the telephone. to which thedevice is attached, means actuated by the ringing current of thetelephone circuit adapted to operate said switching means, and a secondswitching means which will be operated by receiver support, when thereceiver is raised to disconnect the visual signal from its currentsupply.

2. A call indicator of the class described adapted to be placed upon atelephone, consisting of, a visual signal; a source of electricalcurrent to operate said signal; a switch- III nal from its currentsupply.

of the telephone circuit adapted to automatically operate said switchinmeans.

3. A call indicator of t e class described adapted to be placed upon atelephone, consisting of, a visual signal; a source of'electricalcurrent to operate sa d signal; a switch controlling said current; arelay adapted to automatically close said switch when a call is placedupon the telephone, the device is installed upon, and so constructedthat it will keep the switch closed for a limited period,

after the call has been made.

4-. A call indicator of the class described,

adapted to he used with a telephone, having a spring controlled receiversupport, consisting of, a visual signal; a separate source of currentfor the operation of said signal; a switch adapted to connect saidcurrent to said signal when a call is placed upon the telephone and thereceiver is on its support; means actuated by the rin ing current of thetelephone circuit adapte to operate said switch; a second switchingmeans which will be operated by the receiver support, when the receiveris raised, to disconnect the visual sig- 5. A call indicator 0 the classdescribed, adapted to be used with a telephone, having a springcontrolled receiver support, consisting of, a visual signal; a separatesource of current for the operation of said signal; a switch adapted toconnect said current to said signal when a call is placed upon thetelephone and the receiver is on its support;

I means actuated by the ringing current of the telephone circuit adaptedto operate said switch, said means being in the form of a retarded relayso arran ed that it will retain the switch in its cFosed position for ashort period and then allow the same to open; a second switching meanswhich will be operatedby the receiver support, when the receiver israised, to disconnect the visual signal from its current supply.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 31st day of Au st,A. D. 1929.

CHARLES L. ST CKNEY, JR.

